HDMA re-elects board leaders, adds new members

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association announced the members and leaders of its board of directors from the organization’s annual meting.

Dakota Drug president and CEO Ted M. Scherr was re-elected to be chairman of the board, and Cardinal Health’s Pharmaceutical Segment CEO Jon Giacomin won another term as the board’s vice chairman.

HDMA also announced the newest members of its board of directors — Morris & Dickson Co. president Paul Dickson; Louisiana Wholesale Drug president and CEO Chad Gielen; EVP and president of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. Bob Mauch; and Charles “Chip” Phillips, president of Anda.

“HDMA is pleased to welcome back Ted and Jon, as well as all our new Directors, as we continue the important business of ensuring the efficiency and safety of the healthcare supply chain for all Americans.”

FDA approves Lopid generic from Aurobindo

Dayton, N.J. — Aurobindo Pharma Limited announced Monday that it had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its generic of Pfizer’s Lopod (gemfibrozil) tablets in 600-mg dosage strength.

The drug is intended to treat high cholesterol alongside diet and exercise. Brand sales for Lopid in the U.S. were about $35.1 million for the twelve months ended July 2015, according to IMS Health.

Sprout announces availability of Addyi REMS training

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sprout Pharmaceuticals recently announced that pharmacists and providers can now enroll Risk Evaluaiton and Mitigation Strategy training to become certified to prescribe or dispense Addyi (filbanserin), the recently approved drug that treats hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women.

“We are committed to patient safety first and foremost, and as such, our priority is to educate prescribers and pharmacies about Addyi leading up to its availability,” Sprout CEO Cindy Whitehead said. “The millions of women who suffer from HSDD have been awaiting a treatment option for years, and we look forward to working with healthcare providers and pharmacies to provide them with education on Addyi.”

The REMS materials can be accessed from Addyi.com and prescriber and pharmacists have to review and complete a knowledge assessment. The program is designed to reduce the risk of syncope and hypertension that can occur when Addyi interacts with alcohol.

RELATED NEWS

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic of Hoffman-La Roche’s Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) capsules from Lupin. The company’s generic will be available in 30-, 45- and 75-mg dosage strengths.
The product is inficated to treat acute, uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients 2 weeks of age and older, as well as to prevent influenza A and B in patients 1 year old and older. The drug had U.S. sales of roughly $467.8 million for the 12 months ended October 2017, according to IQVIA data.

Behavioral health pharmacy and telepsychiatry company Genoa, a QoL Healthcare Company, has reached a big number with its remote psychiatry offering. The Tukwila, Wash.-based company announced Tuesday that it had facilitated more than 100,000 telepsych consultations on its video conferencing platform.
Genoa attributes the milestone to its recent buildup of its telepsychiatry operations, which grew to include 35 in 2017 from 20 at the start of the year, and included 250 providers. In 2017, the company grew to serve more than 2,500 patients per week.

This year's flu continues to be Texas big, according to the Walgreens Flu Index released Wednesday, as the top 10 communities experiencing the greatest amount of flu incidence were all located in the Lone Star State for the week ended Jan. 6.
Iowa, Idaho and Arkansas rank behind Texas in terms of flu activity. And Montana, Idaho and Iowa ranked highest among states experiencing flu activity gains.

Amneal Biosciences has launched its generic of Otsuka’s Busulfex (busulfan injection, 6 mg/ml). The product is indicated to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Amneal said that its generic is available in cartons of eight single-dose vials, each of which contains 60 mg of the drug in a 10-ml clear sterile solution. The product is made without natural rubber, latex, gluten or preservatives, Amneal said.
The drug had U.S. sales of roughly $80 million for the 12 months ended October 2017, according to data from IQVIA.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has launched sevelamer carbonate tablets, 800 mg, in 270-count bottles. This generic from the Bridgewater, N.J.-based company is an AB-rated therapeutic equivalent to Renvela.
Amneal also launched five other products in addition to sevelamer carbonate:

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